Toy frame for stuffed toys



Feb. Z, 1950 A. MENZiN TOY FRAME FOR STUFFED TOYS Filed Feb. 23, 1946 INVENTUR HEW/99M ME/VZV/V g FITTURNEY Patented Feb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATE-VS" TOY FRAME FOR STUFFED Toys i J Abraham Menzin, New York, x Application February23, 1946, SerialNo. 649,507

This invention relates in general to a toy and in particular to a toy frame for a stuffed toy.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new frame for a stuffed toy.

It is another object of the invention to provide a durable wire frame for a stuffed toy.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a durable adjustable frame for a stuffed t y- Further objects of the invention as well as the construction and use thereof will in part be obvious and will in part become apparent fromthe following disclosure.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy frame according to one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a toy frame according to another form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of an adjusting means according to one form of the invention, according to one of the frames shown in the previous figures, in cross section taken along the line 3--3.

Referring to the figures in detail there is shown in Fig. l, a toy frame in the form of a frame for a toy to simulate a child's dog to, comprising two outer wire members H and I2 bent in the outline of a dog, having legs I3, a head l4 and a tail I5, optionally with ears Hi to complete the resemblance to a toy dog.

The two wire members II and I! are substantially identical in shape and size, and are joined together at numerous spaced positions by means of cross members or supports l1. These supports I! are of substantially equal length so that the two members II and I2 are mounted substantially parallel with each other. There is thus provided a toy frame for a simulated dog, having two dog-like outlines mounted apart from each other to form a hollow frame in the shape of a dog.

The wire members II and I2, and the support members I! are constructed of a stiff but flexible metal, such as, an iron or steel wire. The members are thin enough to be bent, and yet are thick enough to retain their relative shape in spite of the hard wear usually given to children's toys. A wire with a diameter of about 14%" up to 3 Claims. (Cl, Q.

about will ,be satisfactory, depending on the size of the toy and the conditions of wear and usage. v

The supports ll are securely bound to the wire members I l and lit, to mount them to the mem bers and to mount the members together. For this purpose a strong bond is necessary to pre: vent accidental separation, and in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention these supports are secured rby welding or the like. Soldering with the present commercial solders is avoided, since these do not have the rugged structural characteristics which are necessary for the structure.

Optionally at several key points in the structure of the frame; namely, the tip of the tail, ears, nose, feet and the like, there is provided a strenghened support ll, for example a support of substantial increased thickness. This ensured increased. strength at the critical points in the structure.

' Toward the center of the body of the toy frame are a plurality of adjustable supports which are adaptedto belengthened to cause a thickening in the body of the toy. Except for these adjustable supports the body is of substantially even thickness, and accordingly the adjustable portion of the framegives ability to create a more lifelike appearance at will. For example, the 0 central portion'of the body of the toy may be stuffed to an enlarged shape to simulate a well fed, fat, animal. Alternatively the body may be left in its original substantially fiat shape to simulate the sleek type of animal.

The structure of these adjustable supports ll according to one form of the invention is set forth in Fig. 3. This support I'I comprises a male member 2| mounted, for example on member l2 and a mating female member 20 mounted on the other member H. The male member 2| has a series of forwardly extending prongs or teeth 22 which mesh with a series of forwardly extending teeth 23 on the inside of the female member 20, so that the male and female members resist forces tending to close the two members together. As shown in Fig. 3, these two members 20 and 2| may be so constructed that they cannot be closed together; alternatively the male member may be sufliciently smaller than the female member so that the members may be closed together by separating the teeth and carefully passing the one member past the other, while a simple closing motion will be resisted by meeting teeth.

5 According to this form of the invention, therefore, there is provided a toy frame capable of being stretched in one general location only, to simulate in appearance a fat animal, but which under normal use will substantially remain fiat.

In Fig. 2 there is shown another embodiment of the invention comprising a toy frame H1 in the form of a cat, comprising two outer members H and 12 to simulate the outline of a cat and having a head 14, feet I3, a, tail l5, ears l6 as in the previous form of the invention. frame likewise has 'crosssu'ppoits ll, llfi'a'nd 11 as 'intne form of the invention shown in Fig. 1. The adjustable feature of the toy as shown in Fig. 3 is valuable with this form of the inyention'aswith the previous form.

The toy frame as illustrated in -any =o'r the forms of the invention is providedwith asuita ble decorative covering, such as, a cloth or other fabric designed in imitation of the animal'i'epre sented bythe shape of thefram e. H Thecovered name is stuffed, rorexamprewlth l'a'air, cotton, or 'other fibrous "or sirnilar sm fiin'g materrai to produce a complete toy animal. DecOratiVe f'eaacres such as eyesriaoutn and the lilte inlay-be added.

"While I have illusfti bItedand-desciibed tlfe pre fr'red embodiments of 'iiiy inventlon, to be tind'rstooti that I'do not liiiiit mysl'f to'the p'r'ecise "constructions herein disclosed and the right 5 a female member mounted at one end on one of said frame members and having its other end extended toward the other frame member, a male member mounted at one end on the other frame member and having its free end slidably extendint'o said female member, and cooperating teeth formed on said female member and said male member for holding said male and female members in various extended positions to simi- =Iarly space the frame members, said teeth being 15, of the ratchet type and extended to permit free *xtension of said male and female members but to-resist collapse thereof.

3. In a toy frame having two like frame members parallelly connected together by spaced groups of supports, means between the spaced groups of supports adjustably connecting together the frame members to be expanded be tween the spaced groups of supports, comprising a female member mounted at one end on one of said frame-members and havingits other end extended =-towa1-d the other frame membeig-a'male {iiiember mounted 'at one end on the other-frame ininber ahd having its fieeendslidablyextended into said female member, and cooperating teeth -is"reserved-to all-changes and-modifiea-nons eom co sol-med on said fe'male member and said male {mg withi'ii'the scope; crane invention as e'nnea new m e s m' a Having "thus described -&ay- 1nvert e n, whati claim as new, and desire to secui'fe-byTlfiiwd Etates luetters'fitnt lsz p I 11; Ina tpy name havmgtwe like rraxue mem bers parallelly "connected toeemeapy spaced fg'roup's of supports, m ans 1setweentne-s ajcea "groups of sup'p'oits afdJds bly connecting toriin iber foi holding saidmale afid'fefiiale mem bers in various extended positions to similar-1y space the frame members, sai'd teeth being of the 'ffi iche't t'ypt'a-and. extended to-permit -fiee eatens'in'effsaid male and ferhale ine'i'nblrs but to re Elsi; col-lapse thered sam female member having islits extended in rrom'tne end'thereof into which saw 'i'na'le member extends permitting expansion of said female member-so thatsald teeth will ride gat r t e frame m erg m be gjggfified 5 over one another when 'said male and "female tween the spaced groups of supports, nfemale membenmou'rited'atone efi'doiioiie of said frameme'mbers and paving itsjotnerend extended toward the otnerffiame amper -swam member mounted at one en'dorr thefother frame membe'rand havi'rfg itsfreehdsl'idahli? extended into said female "member;arid'coopefating teeth formed on said female mm'berafi'd 'said ""aTe ffiiemb''r'foi holdihgsaiii iffalfaffidfinale'meririlaers in various xt'fidcl'i'pbsitionsto similarly "space the "name members. I o

2. In a my name having'two iikeframemember's paraneu connected? refiner 15y spaced members are extended. h

ABRAHAM "NIENZ'IN.

--REFERENGES CITED 7 r The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name 7 Date f 1,113,537 Thompson Oct. 13, 1914 137M133 Fike Dec. 9, 1930 $035,353 Torme Mar. 24, 1936 Lafar'gue Dec. 6, 1938 

